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, was a concern .
    In this terrible world they lived in, disruptions to the carefully at tended balance of the city could cause major problems . The last time all his meetings had been canceled it was due to the food riots.
    His gut told him something was not right, and it took all his willpower not to rush down the steps and into the streets to find Maria.
    Closing down the screen of his wristlet, Dwayne looked up to see some of the other officers staring at their own orders with perplexed expressions on their faces.
    Sweat began to bead his forehead, not because of the muggy air, but because he suddenly feared that the Inferi Scourge had finally breached the walls.
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 2
     
    The narrow hallway was stiflingly hot and the smell of boiling laundry was strong and acrid. Through the open door of one of the flats, Maria caught sight of two older women stirring a large stainless steel tub on a makeshift stove. Rose Bergman waved to her while Rose Garcia scowled into the mix of soap and water. Maria always thought of the sweet couple as ‘ the Roses, ’ but she found it easier to call them by their last names.
    “Be careful on the wall!” Ms. Bergman called out.
    “Don ’ t tell her what to do, Rose,” Ms. Garcia snapped. “You ’ re always so bossy.”
    “I ’ m showing concern for her wellbeing, Rose,” Ms. Bergman pouted.
    Feeling obligated to make an appearance, Maria stepped back into the doorway and waved. “I ’ ll be fine, Ms. Bergman. Thank you.”
    The older woman with the unruly silver curls smiled at her sweetly while Ms. Garcia scowled. The couple loved to squabble and Maria found it endearing. Both appeared to be in their sixties and wore their hair long under colorful headscarves. They worked long hours cleaning laundry for most of the people living in the building. Maria paid them in credits while other s paid in food and other wares.
    “We ’ ll have your laundry ready tonight,” Ms. Garcia informed her. “ We ’ re running a little behind. The blackouts set us back.”
    “We had to get out the propane stove,” Ms. Bergman explained.
    “It ’ s all good. I don ’ t need my things until tomorrow anyway.” The pungent fumes from the soap were making her eyes water and she suppressed a small cough.
    “We ’ ll drop it off at your flat tonight,” Ms. Bergman promised.
    Pulling out her wallet, Maria fished out a few credits. “Here let me pay you now.”
    “Oh, we couldn ’ t,” Ms. Bergman protested.
    Ms. Garcia plucked the money from Maria ’ s hand and thrust it into one of the pockets of her heavy apron.
    “Rose, we can ’ t!” Ms. Bergman chided her. “Not until we ’ re done with the job.”
    “You need your pills,” Ms. Garcia said, her heavily sweating face set with determination. She continued to stir the laundry, ignoring her partner.
    “It ’ s fine. Really.” Maria slipped out of the doorway. “You get your pills and I ’ ll see you tonight.”
    “Oh, Maria,” Ms. Bergman called out, rushing out after her. “I just wanted to thank you so much for all you ’ re doing.”
    “It ’ s no problem paying early.”
    “No, no, I meant about the speech last night. It was so wonderful to hear that we ’ re close to defeating the Scrags . It ’ s the first time in so long I feel any hope!” Ms. Bergman clutched Maria ’ s hands in her strong, callused ones. “I keep telling Rose that things will be so much better once the Scrags are gone and we can return to the outside world. I do miss it so.”
    Swallowing hard, Maria mulled over her words before responding. “We ’ re just doing our best out there. I do my part. That ’ s all I can say.”
    Ms. Bergman ’ s big blue eyes stared into hers searchingly. “ We ’ re close to winning, aren ’ t we?” Her voice wavered slightly.
    Not wanting to see hope die in her sweet friend ’ s eyes, Maria squeezed her hand. “Of course. Closer and closer every day.”
    An enormous smile burst